Known as the Home of the Blues, Memphis is a music lover’s paradise, but there are plenty of other reasons to visit this incredible city. You’ll be able to explore its deep history, both in terms of music and the heart of the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century. Plus, there are museums, parks, and more waiting.
Here, you’ll learn more about the best things to do in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as discover ideal times of year to visit. In addition, you’ll get a good idea of the average trip costs so you can budget accordingly.
Best Times to Go to Memphis
Memphis is at its most comfortable during the spring and fall months, typically from late April through the beginning of June and again from late August to the middle of October. For instance, in April, you’ll find temperatures in the 70s during the day, and in October, you’ll experience similarly warm temperatures.
For music lovers, also consider visiting for the annual Beale Street Music Festival, which takes place each May. Some of music’s biggest names perform at this three-day event. 2022’s headliners included Megan Thee Stallion and Van Morrisson, so you know there’s something for everyone.
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Bad Times to Go to Memphis
Summer and winter will be less crowded in Memphis, but the weather is less than ideal for many. Summer travel in Memphis can be hot and humid. The average high temperature in July is in the 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit, making that one of the worst times to visit Memphis. Late fall and early winter tend to be cloudy in Memphis, but there’s not a high chance of snow. Rainfall tends to peak in early December and mid-April.
Average Cost of a Memphis Vacation
Before you start making a list of the top things to do in Memphis, get an idea of how much a trip there will cost you once you arrive. According to Budget Your Trip, an individual spends an average of $34 on dining every day. Local transportation is actually more expensive at $47 per day, so you might want to look into renting a car to get around.
Hotels, however, can be reasonably priced at around $134 per night in Memphis, and perhaps even less if you try some hacks to save money on hotels.
Here’s how the costs break down if you plan to spend a week in the city; there will be some incidentals as well:
• One Person Total: $1,172
• Two Person Total: $2,343
One note: You may want to also budget for travel insurance in case the unexpected were to happen, or look into what kind of credit card travel insurance your issuer provides.
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10 Fun Must-Dos in Memphis
As you plan a trip to this Tennessee city, you’ll likely want to map out an itinerary, even if just loosely, to make sure you hit the highlights. Here, culled from top online reviews and seasoned travelers, is advice on the 10 best things to do in Memphis.
1. Pay Homage to the King
We would be remiss to start off a list of best things to do in Memphis without mentioning Graceland, the home of iconic singer Elvis Presley. Open for tours on a daily basis, your ticket gives you access to 120 acres. Explore Elvis’s mansion (including the Jungle Room), his most iconic outfits, and the exterior grounds.
There are also on-site museums dedicated to the King of Rock ‘n Roll’s career and cars. If you really want to make the most out of your time at Graceland, you can also stay at a hotel on the grounds. If staying in the city, consider a rental car or shuttle for the 20-minute drive. Ticket prices range from $28 to $215 for the Ultimate VIP Tour. (If you’re buying the top of the line tickets, you may want to swipe with plastic when paying to earn credit card rewards.) graceland.com/
2. Visit the National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis is also known for another King — civil rights legend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated at the city’s Lorraine Motel in 1968. Now the location has been transformed into the National Civil Rights Museum with interactive exhibits, films, and oral histories cataloging centuries of the quest for freedom and equality in America.
Exhibit material starts with the struggle against slavery in the early 1600s and moves forward through today’s continuing Civil Rights Movement. Walk through a recreation of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts of the 1950s, the Memphis Sanitation Strikes, and more. The museum is closed on Tuesdays so plan your visit in advance. civilrightsmuseum.org/
3. Stroll Down Beale Street
This nearly two-mile stretch of road in downtown Memphis is a celebration of all things music. Considered the official Home of the Blues, you’ll find clubs and restaurants to satisfy any music lover’s thirst for live entertainment.
There’s always something going on at Beale Street. Just show up to explore on your own, or download the official app to create a plan. Note that a security checkpoint goes up on Friday and Saturday nights. Those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult after 9 p.m., and the street is strictly 21+ after 11 p.m. In other words, weekend nights on Beale Street are on the list for fun things to do in Memphis for adults but not kids. bealestreet.com/
4. March with the Peabody Ducks
One of the best things to do in Memphis with kids is to head to the downtown Peabody Hotel for the daily Duck March. Occurring at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, this decades-long tradition involves five North American mallards who live at the hotel. Each group of ducks lives at the hotel for three months before returning to farm life outside the city.
They’re brought down from their Royal Duck Palace on the rooftop to swim in the lobby fountain. Participants must be at least five years old, and the hotel recommends arriving 30 minutes early to get a seat. Seeing the Peabody Ducks is definitely an affordable family travel option. peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks
5. Tour the Belz Museum
What started out as a private art collection has turned into five permanent exhibits displaying Asian and Judaic art, as well as the Holocaust Memorial Gallery. The Belz Museum also brings in special exhibits twice a year.
One of the most comprehensive collections at the museum is the Chinese art exhibit, which is known as the largest such collection in the southeast United States. You’ll see many pieces from the Qing dynasty, which lasted from the mid-1600s through the early 1900s. The Belz Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.
6. Take in Some Thrilling Basketball
Love basketball? Check out an NBA game at FedExForum, which is home to the Memphis Grizzlies (nba.com/grizzlies/tickets). The season runs from October to April. The stadium also hosts University of Memphis men’s basketball, which is a NCAA Division I. You can also check out the Division I women’s team on campus at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
7. Marvel at the Mighty Lights
Put this on your list of free things to do in Memphis: the nightly Mighty Lights on the downtown waterfront. Every evening, the city’s two iconic bridges (the Hernando de Soto and Harahan) are lit up in a huge display of LED lights. You’ll see the show at the hourly and 30-minute marks starting at sundown, followed by a grand final at 10:30 p.m.
Scout out a spot to watch along the Mississippi riverfront parks, or scope out an aerial view in the city. The Fourth Bluff and Mud Island are both good options to check out. mightylights.com/
8. Snap Selfies at Mud Island River Park
Tap into your inner river rat at Mud Island River Park. It takes just a few minutes to walk to it from downtown Memphis, and you’ll enjoy lounging on this Mississippi River island. It’s also a perfect spot for some social media selfies thanks to the huge Memphis sign, which spans 50 feet.
This 52-acre park also features a scale model of the Mississippi River to give you a sense of the true breadth of the world’s third largest river basin. Traveling with pets? Mud Island is also a great location for a long walk with your dog. memphisparks.com/park/mud-island-park/
9. Drop into the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Not only is Memphis home to the blues and rock ‘n roll, it has also played a pivotal role in America’s soul music scene. The Stax Museum is the original home of the legendary Stax recording studio, which was the recording label of iconic artists like Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Brown, and many others.
Explore the rich history of the studio through exhibits and artifacts. You’ll even get the chance to see Isaac Hayes’ custom Cadillac Eldorado, decked out in 24-karat gold trim with a mini-fridge and television on the inside. The Stax Museum is closed on Mondays; tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for kids 9-12; children 8 and under are free. staxmuseum.com/
10. Wander Through Meeman-Shelby Forest
Needa dose of nature? Memphis has that, too! Head 20 minutes outside of downtown Memphis for the enchanting Meeman-Shelby Forest. You can explore 13,000 acres of wilderness that is home to a diverse range of ecosystems. Discover sandy beaches and swamplands (home to the Bald Cypress tree).
There are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy, including trails, a nature center, and a disc golf course. tnstateparks.com/parks/meeman-shelby
The Takeaway
From a huge music scene to pivotal moments in history, from parks to nightly light shows, Memphis has attractions worth exploring for all ages. It doesn’t matter if you have a few days or a full week — it’s easy to fill your schedule with tons of fun things to do in Memphis on any budget.
FAQ
Is Beale Street worth a visit?
Beale Street is considered a must-visit if you’re visiting Memphis, whether it’s your first time or you’ve vacationed there before. Home of blues music, you’ll get a truly unique flavor of entertainment any time of day or night.
What is the best month to visit Memphis?
If you have a completely open calendar and are ready to head to Memphis at the perfect time of year, consider going either in mid-spring or mid-fall. You’ll miss the heat of summer and clouds of winter, so you can explore the top things to do in Memphis, Tennessee, in the best possible weather.
What is Memphis most popular for?
Memphis is best known for its music scene, both historically and today. It’s considered the home of the blues as well as the hometown of rock ‘n roll (Elvis Presley’s Graceland is there), so you’re sure to find something to enjoy.
Photo credit: iStock/benedek The SoFi Credit Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri (TBOM) (“Issuer”) pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. 1See Rewards Details at SoFi.com/card/rewards. Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances. Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners. SOCC0223049
Hello! Today, I have a great post from my blogging friend James. James and his wife paid off $62,000 in debt in just 7 months!
Shortly after we got married, my wife Andrea and I got serious about our finances and paid off all our debt.
This is the story of how we turned a profit on our wedding, combined our finances, and paid off $62,000 of debt in 7 months.
Related:
Where’d all the debt come from?
All the debt was mine. I was a dumb young kid and thought I’d always be able to out earn my stupid decisions. Until one day I couldn’t.
Despite a generous 3-year military scholarship at my pricey, private college, I had student loans to pay for:
my housing (~$12,000 x 4)
my freshman year’s tuition (~$30,000)
and a summer study abroad program (~$15,000)
Then shortly before I graduated, USAA, a military-member’s bank, offered me a $25,000 loan at the ridiculously low rate of 2% interest. USAA dubbed it a “Career Starter Loan,” but really it was their clever way of ensuring I’d be a customer for the foreseeable future. I used $15,000 to refinance my study-abroad loan, bought a new laptop, and put the rest in savings.
If you’re keeping count, that pushed my total debt upon graduating college up over $100,000.
So of course I immediately got serious about my finances, did a budget, and started attacking my debt, right?
Nope.
I bought a sports car instead.
I was 22 years old, only 4 months into my Army career, and had racked up over ~$115,000 in debt. All I had to show for it was a fancy diploma, a 3 year old Mazda, and $1,100+/month in debt payments.
My wake up call
As can happen in the military, I got hurt.
I always knew it was a possibility, but never thought it’d happen to me. Ultimately, the Army decided it was best if they “retired” me. Just like that my once promising career was over only two years after it started.
Fortunately for me, the Army is a huge, slow moving bureaucracy and I had some time to prepare for my unexpected new life as a civilian. Unfortunately for me, I got hurt during the financial collapse of 2008 and I was entering one of the worst job markets of my life.
I didn’t know how long I’d be without a reliable income, but I knew I’d still be expected to reliably come up with $1,100/month for debt payments.
I opened an excel file and made my first crude budget, subtracting what I needed to spend each month from what I made each month. Turns out I had more money leftover at the end of the month than I realized. I saved as much of it as I could and set it aside as an emergency fund.
Six months after leaving the Army, and nearly draining my savings, I convinced a Fortune 500 company to put me in charge of a $15M/year operation. Now armed with a decent salary I set aside one month’s worth of expenses as a small emergency fund and attacked my debts with a vengeance.
I finally understood what a hindrance my debts were and I wanted them gone!
If you’d like, check out this article to get the exact tools and tactics I used to attack my debts. Following this plan, I would’ve paid off my remaining ~$80,000 and been totally debt free in 3 years.
There was just something I had to do first.
Will you marry me?
My debt was no secret to Andrea, and to her credit, she didn’t really care. She valued me more than my debt and saw how hard I worked to get through my career crisis and get my act together. In fact, we grew closer through all the craziness.
We’d been together for 5 years at this point and it was time to move our relationship forward. I paid off a couple more debts, kept current on my remaining balances, and used my excess cash each month to save for an engagement ring.
In September 2011 I asked Andrea to marry me, she said yes, and we were married a year later.
In that year, I paid the minimum payments on my remaining debts and we saved all our excess cash to pay for our wedding and honeymoon.
We made sure to stretch our dollars by:
Booking a daytime wedding, it was a lot cheaper to rent a venue during the day than at night.
We rented centerpieces (the vases all the flowers went in) instead of buying them. I’m not sure what we would’ve done with 20 identical glass cylinders after the wedding, anyway.
Made our invitations and programs using kits available from craft stores.
“Hired” friends and family in the industry we would’ve been willing to hire even if we didn’t know them
Andrea’s aunt is a seamstress and made all the bridesmaids dresses.
Our DJ/Pianist was a friend.
Our Photographer was a friend.
In the end, we had a beautiful wedding, a great honeymoon, and were able to pay for everything in cash. We even had a bit leftover.
Joining forces
After our honeymoon, we moved into a new rental house and started combining our finances. Then once we could see all our money coming into and going out of the same account, we redid our budget.
Andrea and I both earned similar incomes, but now our expenses were much less as a married couple than when we lived on our own. We only had one rent payment, one set of utilities, etc. Since our “married” expenses each month were pretty close to what each of us spent as a single person we had a lot of cash left at the end of the month.
By this point, the debt was down to ~$62,000 and it was time for us to attack it.
Andrea and I both wanted to pay off the debt quickly, but we didn’t agree on how. The main point of contention centered around the money we had leftover from our wedding, wedding gift cash, and some of Andrea’s savings from her years as a responsible person.
Even though Andrea had shown me incredible grace, I still felt ashamed of my debt. I didn’t want it hanging over our heads and was willing to take drastic action to to wipe it out.
I wanted to throw most of our savings at debt, leaving just enough to act as a small emergency fund. Then once the debt was totally gone, we’d rebuild our savings to its previous level.
That plan would have us out of debt really fast, but was risky as it would leave us with only a small emergency fund for a while. I didn’t love this risky plan, but I was anxious to pay off our debts and was already used to living with only a small emergency fund. Besides, with two incomes I figured the odds of us having a catastrophic emergency were quite small.
Andrea, however, hated that plan.
She wasn’t comfortable with the risk and did not want to drain our savings. Having a big emergency fund gave her a sense of security I’d never experienced before and the idea of only having a small emergency fund freaked her out.
Balancing speed with security was a new concept for us. We viewed risk differently and had to come up with a plan we’d both be happy with. The more we talked about it, though, the less our conversations centered on our finances.
Instead, we focussed more on building the life we wanted.
Debt freedom and a big emergency fund were just some of the ingredients.
We both wanted to travel. We both wanted to give to charity. We both wanted to pursue work we love.
Paying off the debt would give us the freedom to do so.
We never wanted to worry about putting food on the table. We never wanted to wonder how we’d pay our rent. We didn’t ever want to be tied to a job we didn’t like just because we needed the money.
A big emergency fund would help us avoid those things.
Our plan for paying down debt
So here’s what we came up with.
We agreed to use some savings to pay off a couple of my smaller student loans completely. This still left us with enough of an emergency fund to maintain Andrea’s sense of security.
We agreed to keep our expenses to less than half of our combined income. We could’ve afforded to rent a fancier house and eat lobster every night, but we chose not to. This way, if one of us lost our jobs we’d still be able to pay rent and keep food on the table. While we were both working, though, we’d use the leftover cash to attack the remaining debt.
We agreed to stay focussed and pay off all the remaining debt in less than a year. If by our first anniversary we still had some debt we’d tap into our savings to pay off whatever small amount was left.
Assuming everything went according to plan, we’d be debt free with a healthy emergency fund within the first year of our marriage.
FINALLY DEBT FREE!
Everything went according to plan and we’re done paying down debt!
Seven months later we were totally debt free. ~$62,000 paid off and we still had a healthy emergency fund.
Or to put it another way, we paid off ~$115,000 in five years, about a year faster than if we’d not gotten married and I just paid it off myself. I paid off ~$53,000 in 4 years on my own, slowed down my debt attack to get married, and together with my awesome wife wiped out the rest.
Even more important than paying off the debt, Andrea and I learned how to set the course of our lives and take action to get us there. We grew closer as a couple as we faced the challenge of paying off debt. Best of all Andrea and I learned to work together to achieve great things.
Now it’s your turn
Maybe you’ve never talked about hopes and dreams or set goals with your partner. Or maybe you’ve never even thought about it for yourself. This can be tough and tricky, but I’d like to help you out.
It’s pretty easy to articulate a “what” and a “how” for money and call it a day. Take for example “Let’s pay off our credit card/student loan debt by cutting our expenses.” That’s great and responsible, but boring. Instead, as Andrea and I learned, start with “why” you want to do something.
Think about or ask your partner:
How would it feel to have an extra $100, $500, or $1,000 leftover at the end of the month?
How would you approach your career differently if you didn’t have to trade your labor just to pay Sallie Mae or Visa?
How much fun could you have?
How generous could you be?
What new options would you have in your life?
Taking this approach, you’d come up with something like: “I want to take a job for the love of it, give more money to charity, buy that thing I’ve always wanted without feeling guilty, and/or stay home with the kids. So let’s trim our expenses to pay off our debt.”
With a solid “why” like that, the “what” and “how” are just details. You’ll also be much more likely to stick with your goals when, not if, something comes along to distract you.
Pessimism is practical
If you find yourself struggling to come up with a worthy “why” release your inner pessimist. Think about all the things you don’t want in life. Think about what you’re afraid of. Then flip it by stating the opposite.
Take “I’m afraid I’m going to work as a corporate slave forever just to pay off my student loans” and flip it to “I want to pay off these loans so I can afford to work for a non-profit.”
“We’re going to be too broke to travel or have any fun when we get older” flips to become “I want to travel the world with our friends and family, so let’s save up a bunch of money to do so.”
Once you have your “why” figured out, “what” to do with your money and “how” will come more easily.
You’ll be able to withstand temptation and not get distracted by shiny stuff. And by working towards a worthy “why” together with your partner, you’ll learn to talk about money without fighting because you won’t just be talking about money. Instead, you’ll be planning and working towards a better life together.
I hope you and your partner will face the challenge of your finances, decide what you really want for your lives, and work towards your goals together. Aggressively paying off our debts actually brought Andrea and I closer together and deepened our marriage. We learned how to talk about tough subjects, set goals, and work together to achieve them. You and your partner can do the same.
Author bio: James helps couples handle and talk about money without fighting at loveandmoneymatters.com. Enjoy his blog post about paying down debt below.
What’s your family’s biggest financial goal? Why is it important to you? Are you currently paying down debt?
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Las Vegas is known for many things, typically its world-famous casinos and that legendary nightlife. There’s a reason they say, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
For some people, those features of Las Vegas are exactly what they want. But not everyone loves to play the slot machines, try their luck at roulette, or sip those fancy cocktails. The good news is you don’t have to: There are countless things to do in Las Vegas, and only a small fraction involve drinking and gambling.
Here, learn about the best things to do when visiting Las Vegas because this Nevada town has a lot going on!
Best Times to Go to Las Vegas
The best times to visit Las Vegas can depend on your personal preferences. What do you want to do while you are there? Here are some things to keep in mind:
• Weather: Las Vegas can be very hot if you opt for summer travel. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during that time. So, if you prefer not to be covered in sweat, the best time to visit in terms of weather is usually in the fall (September to November) or spring (March to May), when temperatures are milder. However, if you are planning a visit that involves nothing but casino time, seeing shows, and hitting the pool, you can travel pretty much whenever.
• Events: Las Vegas hosts many events and festivals throughout the year, including the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival in May, the World Series of Poker in the summer, and the National Finals Rodeo in December. If there is a particular event you want to attend, that could influence when you decide to go.
• Crowds: Las Vegas is a popular destination all year, but certain times of year tend to be busier than others. The winter holidays and New Year’s Eve are typically the busiest times, while weekdays in the summer can be quieter.
Generally, the best time to visit Las Vegas depends on what you want to do and see. If you want to avoid crowds and extreme heat, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. If you want to attend a specific event, plan your trip around that. Also, consider travel insurance to give yourself peace of mind in case you hit any obstacles before or during your trip.
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Bad Times to Go to Las Vegas
Again, the bad times to visit Las Vegas are subjective and depend on your preferences. For most people, though, here are times of the year that might be less enjoyable:
• Summer: As mentioned, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. That could make it an uncomfortable time to visit for many.
• Major holidays: Las Vegas is a popular destination on many major holidays, including New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. During these times, hotels and attractions can be crowded, and prices might be higher than usual.
• Convention weekends: Las Vegas is a popular destination for business conferences and conventions, and hotel rates can be higher during these times. You might also find that the city is more crowded than usual.
As you can see, the worst times to visit Las Vegas also depend on your personal inclinations. If you want to avoid crowds and high prices, it’s best to avoid major holidays and conventions. If you can’t handle the heat, staying away during the summer is best.
Average Cost of a Las Vegas Vacation
The cost of a Las Vegas vacation can vary widely depending on factors such as the time of year, duration of your visit, accommodations, dining and entertainment options, and your budget for spending. It might help if you already have a travel fund, but it depends on how much you will spend. Here is a general breakdown of common expenses for a one-person and couple’s vacation:
One-Person Vacation:
• Accommodations: A mid-range hotel room can cost around $100-$200 per night; luxury hotels in Vegas will of course typically be more, but you may be able to use hacks that will lower that cost and help you save money on hotels.
• Flights: Round-trip flights generally cost around $200-$500, depending on the departure city and time of year.
• Transportation: Taxis, Ubers, and public transportation can add up to around $50-$100 or more. Of course, they might cost you more money depending on how often you use them.
• Food and drink: Meals can cost around $20-$50 per day, depending on where and what you eat, plus drinks and snacks can add another $20-$50 per day.
• Entertainment: Shows, attractions, and activities can range from free to several hundred dollars per person. Tickets to those high-profile residencies can get quite pricey.
Total: A one-person vacation to Las Vegas can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 or more, depending on the above factors. Also consider things like traveling with pets, which will increase your costs as hotels typically add a charge and you might have additional transportation costs getting to pet-friendly parks.
Couple’s Vacation:
• Hotels: A mid-range hotel room can cost around $100-$200 per night or more for a luxury hotel.
• Flights: Round-trip flights can cost around $400-$1,000, depending on the departure city and time of year. However, you can save money or get extra perks with an airline credit card or cash back rewards credit card.
• Transportation: Taxis, Ubers, and public transportation can add up to around $100-$200. Again, it depends in part on how much you use them.
• Food and drink: Meals can cost around $40-$100 per day for two people, depending on where and what you eat. Drinks and snacks might add another $40-$100 per day.
• Entertainment: Shows, attractions, and activities can range from free to several hundred dollars per person.
Total: A couple’s vacation to Las Vegas might cost anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 or more, depending on the above factors. Naturally, how much you can afford will have an effect on your budget.
10 Fun Must-Dos in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the best places in the country for all kinds of entertainment. Whether young or old, you are never more than a few steps away from something interesting. This list of the best things to do in Vegas is culled from top-rated attractions on popular review sites, as well as insider intel from savvy travelers.
The good thing about taking a trip to Las Vegas is that the Strip is generally the focal point. So, if you stay near the Strip, you are sure to find many attractions that are accessible. Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as traversing the Strip takes more steps than you might realize.
1. Visit the Las Vegas Strip
As the main attraction in Vegas, the Strip has numerous shops, restaurants, and shows. Of course, you can visit the casinos if you prefer, but even the Strip has plenty to do that doesn’t involve gambling. Admire the Bellagio’s fountains and the artwork inside the casino, or visit the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. Visit the city’s museums, or enjoy some performances by the city’s various street performers. The Strip offers endless entertainment for all kinds of people. visitlasvegas.com/las-vegas-strip/
2. See a Live Show
Seeing a live show is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas. The city is home to many spectacular shows, including Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, and magic shows. All the best shows are usually on the Strip, so catching a show is convenient, too.
3. Explore Fremont Street
This is the old downtown area of Las Vegas, with vintage casinos, bars, and the famous light show on the overhead canopy. While the Strip is generally the main attraction in Last Vegas these days, many people insist Fremont Street is the “real” Vegas experience. Today, Fremont Street is home to unbeatable experiences like the Viva Vision Light Show, an indoor zip line, and the vintage Golden Nugget casino. vegasexperience.com/
4. Ride the High Roller
Even if you aren’t a high roller in the casinos, you can feel like one in the High Roller observation wheel. This 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel is the world’s tallest observation wheel, offering a stunning view of the Las Vegas skyline. Because the High Roller is so tall, the seats are completely enclosed in glass to keep passengers safe. The High Roller is located in the heart of the Strip, on the property of the LINQ Hotel and Casino. Daytime tickets for a 30-minute ride are typically $8.50 for youth; $23.50 for adults; nighttime is $17.50 for youth, $34.75 for adults. caesars.com/linq/things-to-do/attractions/high-roller
5. Visit the Hoover Dam
Las Vegas has endless things to do, but sometimes, you just need an escape. Located just outside Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is a marvel of engineering and a great place for a day trip. You can reach the Hoover Dam in about one hour by car from the Strip, so getting there isn’t too time-consuming. It was built between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression. It serves several purposes, including controlling flooding of the Colorado River, irrigating over 1,500,000 acres of land, and providing water to 16,000,000 people. Tickets are $10 for a self-guided tour; $30 for a guided tour. usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/
6. Go Shopping
If you’re a shopping fiend, few places are better than Las Vegas. The city is home to many high-end shopping destinations, including the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Fashion Show Mall. There are also indie shops, other malls on the Strip, and outlets. That includes Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, where you’ll find deals on designer brands like Versace, Paige, and Michael Kors. This could also be a great opportunity to earn credit card rewards.
7. Visit the Neon Museum
Be sure to check out The Neon Museum Las Vegas to see a visual representation of Vegas’s history. This outdoor museum is located just north of the Strip and showcases vintage neon signs from Las Vegas’s past. The museum provides guided tours of signs from Vegas, some of which are from famous landmarks from the 1930s to today. General admission is $10 for children, $20 for adults, and tours are available. neonmuseum.org/
8. Play Miniature Golf
Adults and children of all ages can enjoy some amazing mini-golf courses in Las Vegas. The city has several miniature golf courses, including the Twilight Zone by Monster Mini Golf and KISS World featuring KISS Mini Golf. Both courses feature mesmerizing glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. Las Vegas is undoubtedly one of the coolest places to play mini-golf, so be sure to check these out.
9. Go on a Helicopter Tour
Experience the stunning views of Las Vegas and its surrounding areas from above with a thrilling helicopter tour. Several helicopter tour options are available in Las Vegas, ranging from short sightseeing flights to longer tours that take you to nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. Some helicopter tours are as brief as 10 minutes, while some can last several hours. Keep in mind that helicopter tours in Las Vegas can be expensive, ranging from around $100 to several hundred dollars per person. The cost depends on the length of the tour and the attractions included. Book now, pay later travel can help, though these services can have caveats, including incurring high-interest debt.
10. Visit the SkyPod
Visiting the Skypod at the Strat Hotel and Casino is a must-do activity when you’re in Las Vegas. This iconic tower offers stunning views of Las Vegas and an array of thrilling rides, including the SkyJump and Insanity. You can also see the surrounding mountains and desert from the observation deck. The tower stands 1,149 feet tall, making it the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. There are several dining options, including the award-winning Top of the World restaurant, which is located on the 106th floor of the tower and offers 360-degree views of the city while you dine. thestrat.com/attractions
Getting Around Town
Las Vegas doesn’t have a wide array of public transit options, but it does have the Las Vegas Monorail that runs along the strip. Unfortunately, the Monorail isn’t exactly cheap, but a 7-day pass might save a bit if you use it multiple times daily. There is also the Las Vegas Loop to transport you between convention halls. Tickets are a reasonable $4.50 per day. Renting a car is always an option as well.
Dining Details
Las Vegas is a great food city. The hotels are packed with amazing options from household-name chefs. You can also stray from the Strip and find local favorites offering affordable tacos, BBQ, and more. Research your favorite kinds of foods, and then let your tastebuds guide you.
The Takeaway
Las Vegas is known for its casinos, but there is much more to Vegas than just gambling. With world-class live performances, incredible dining, fantastic museums, and mesmerizing mini-golf, there is something for everyone in Las Vegas.
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FAQ
How do I get the most out of my Vegas vacation?
You can do many things to get the most out of your Vegas vacation. For example, you can stay on the Strip or at least nearby so you are centrally located and can easily move between destinations. You should also wear comfortable shoes and enjoy free things to do in Las Vegas, like the fountain shows at the Bellagio.
What is Las Vegas best for?
There are many things Las Vegas is great for, including the Strip, Fremont Street, live performances, and museums. Obviously, there are great shows, gambling, and all kinds of delicious dining options, too.
How much money should you take to Vegas?
How much money you should take to Vegas depends in large part on what you plan to do. An individual on a tight budget might be able to skate by on as little as $500 for a week-long stay. But a couple planning a luxury vacation might need as much as $4,000 or perhaps more.
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Eligibility:
You must be a SoFi registered user.
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Nestled within a chain of islands bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is a popular vacation spot. Plus, U.S. citizens don’t even need a passport when visiting although it can feel as if you’ve been transported to the ultimate far-flung tropical beach vacation.
Yes, sand and sea are a big part of the allure. But if you’re wondering what are some cool things to do in Puerto Rico, you’ll likely be happy to know that parks, museums, shopping, and historical sites are all waiting.
Read on to learn about top spots and attractions across the island, plus the best times of the year to go and other important details. With this advice, you’ll be ready to have an amazing getaway when visiting Puerto Rico.
Best Times to Go to Puerto Rico
If you’re looking for warm weather without the threat of hurricanes, plan your Puerto Rico trip for the winter or spring months. Temperatures average in the 80s all year long, but you’re more likely to avoid crowded beaches and other tourist spots if you focus on these milder months during the school year.
In fact, ending your holiday season with a trip to Puerto Rico lets you take advantage of festivals held throughout the island marking the epiphany in early January. Larger street parades are held in San Juan, but you can also find charming events in smaller towns as well.
Bad Times to Go to Puerto Rico
There are a couple of times of year that are less than ideal for a Puerto Rican vacation. Because a large portion of the local population is Catholic, crowds tend to swell around Easter. That could mean more lines and higher prices.
Another relatively bad time to visit: Hurricane season, which technically lasts from June through November. The most severe weather activity occurs between the middle of August through the middle of October. If you do travel to Puerto Rico during these months, consider purchasing travel insurance through an insurance provider or accessing credit card travel insurance.
Recommended: What Is an Airline Credit Card?
Average Cost of a Puerto Rico Vacation
Before you figure out where to keep your travel fund, calculate how much it will likely cost you. Flight costs vary depending on where you live and what time of year you plan to go.
Once you’re on the island, here are some estimated costs: Food costs can total $39 a day, and local transportation to be about $18. The average nightly hotel cost is $277 for a couple and $139 per person, though there are certainly ways to save money on hotels.
You’ll likely have other incidental costs as well, but here’s how much a week-long Puerto Rico vacation could cost once you’re there.
• One Person Total: $1,524
• Couple Total: $3,048
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10 Fun Must-Dos in Puerto Rico
No matter where you plan to stay, there are fun things to do in Puerto Rico across the entire island. The list you find here gathered intel from top-rated attractions on online review sites. In addition, travelers who have explored the island shared their knowledge. As a result, you’ll find a diverse range of activities for people of all ages and all types of groups, whether you’re going on a friends trip, a romantic getaway, or a family adventure.
1. Explore Old San Juan
When visiting Puerto Rico, a must-see is Old San Juan, the historic district of Puerto Rico’s capital city. The streets are lined with colorful buildings featuring Spanish colonial facades. You can take a guided walking tour if you’d love to know all the best historical facts and stories, or you can stroll on your own at no cost.
Be sure to include Fortaleza Street on your itinerary of things to see in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It has beautiful buildings as well as frequent modern art installations. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to try out in the neighborhood, as well as attractions like La Casa Blanca — the former home of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. nps.gov/nr/travel/american_latino_heritage/old_san_juan.html
2. Trek Through El Yunque National Forest
The only tropical national forest in the U.S., El Yunque is packed with natural excursions just outside of San Juan. It’s considered one of the top things to do in Puerto Rico. There are plenty of hiking trails, ponds, and a lagoon (complete with a rope swing so you can tap into your inner child).
There are more than 28,000 acres in El Yunque, and trails span 25 miles. You can create a plan for any level of exertion. If you’re staying in the San Juan area, definitely put this on your list of unique things to do in Puerto Rico. Admission is only $2, but make sure you have an advance reservation before you go. Bonus: If you are traveling with a pet, the trails are dog-friendly, though only service animals are allowed inside buildings. recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300017
3. Immerse Yourself in Art
Back in the city, get a dose of world-class art at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. Open Thursdays through Sundays, this museum features permanent collections displaying the work of Puerto Rican artists dating from the 17th century to today.
Explore over 1,000 pieces that include paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs, and more. The museum, which is typically closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, is located in the Santurce neighborhood, which is about a 10-minute drive from Old San Juan. Tickets are $6 (not including taxes) per exhibition for adults; $3 for children. mapr.org/en
4. Get Glowing
One of the best things to do in Puerto Rico is to explore one of three bioluminescent bays, which have an otherworldly glow, thanks to microscopic organisms that light up. Seeing these bodies of water can be an amazing and memorable experience.
Mosquito Bay in Vieques is considered the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay. However, you’ll need to take a short flight or boat ride from San Juan to get there.
Alternatively, you can explore Laguna Grande in Fajardo (which is the closest option to San Juan) or La Parguera in Lajas, which is closer to Rincón. La Perguera is also the only place where you can swim rather than take a boat tour or kayak. The best time to go for any bioluminescent bay tour is December through April when there isn’t a lot of rainfall to cloud the water.
Tours can range from about $50 to $75 per person. This can be a good time to swipe with plastic when paying to earn credit card rewards.
5. Tour a Grand Historical Home
Museo Castilla Serrallés is a great thing to do in Puerto Rico if you love history and architecture. It’s the former home of the Serrallés family (of DonQ Rum), who built the extravagant tile-roofed Spanish Revival castle in the 1930s. It takes just under an hour and a half to drive from San Juan to Ponce where the property is, so you may want to think about getting a rental car.
Today, you can explore the home’s interior, as well as beautiful gardens outside. Learn about the history of rum through immersive exhibits, then stroll through the butterfly garden and Japanese gardens. The property is typically open from Wednesday through Sunday, and tickets cost $15 for adults. museocastilloserralles.com/
6. Get Wet
Located on the northwest corner of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla is about a two-hour drive from San Juan. It’s home to the pristine Crash Boat Beach, which is a great place to indulge in almost any kind of water activity you like, including swimming, snorkeling, and surfing (which is ideal during the summer travel season).
Crash Boat Beach is public, so add it to your list of free things to do in Puerto Rico. It definitely has a lively atmosphere, full of music and food to enjoy when you’re not in the water.
7. Stroll Through El Parterre Park
When you need a break from the beach, check out El Parterre in downtown Aguadilla. This beautifully landscaped park offers the perfect spot to casually stroll under mature trees, and there are plenty of benches for resting, reading, or picnicking, just like a local would. It’s also a good sunset watching spot.
El Parterre contains a natural water spring that has quite a bit of historical significance throughout the centuries. It was used as a water source by explorer Sir Francis Drake in the late 16th century and also by Spanish soldiers in later years.
8. Wander Into River Caves
Just an hour west of San Juan, Arecibo is a coastal location with diverse natural wonders to explore. One of the best things to do in Puerto Rico’s Arecibo area is to visit the Camuy River Cave Park. It’s one of the largest cave networks in the entire world.
Recently reopened in early 2023, you’ll walk through immense caverns that are estimated to be over 45 million years old. One of the most breathtaking spots is a sinkhole that shines in sunlight from hundreds of feet above. Tickets are $18 for adults, $13 for kids ages 4 to 12, with younger children admitted for free (which can help families afford to travel).
9. Surf at Domes Beach
Is surfing on your list of fun things to do in Puerto Rico? If so, check out Domes Beach in Rincón, located on the West Coast of the island (a little south from Aguadillo). Even if you don’t surf, you might enjoy catching a professional surfing competition throughout the year.
Domes Beach is also a great place to enjoy a sunset over the water. If you need a break from the waves, check out the Punta Higuero Lighthouse, a historic landmark originally built in 1892.
10. Venture to Vieques Beaches
A smaller island just to the east of the main Puerto Rican island, Vieques can only be reached by a short flight or ferry ride. Because of this, however, the beaches in Vieques are extremely tranquil and secluded. If you want a beach experience without large crowds or noise, this is an incredible option.
Plus, you can take one of the world’s best bioluminescent bay tours while you’re there.
The Takeaway
It’s easy to find dozens of things to do in Puerto Rico, whether San Juan or elsewhere. The hardest part is simply narrowing down your list of options to fit your time there. Whether you want a relaxed beach or an outdoor adventure, a historical home or a top-notch museum, you’ll find it all in Puerto Rico.
FAQ
Is Puerto Rico cheap for tourists?
It depends on your point of comparison. You’ll probably find it cheaper than large coastal cities on the U.S. mainland, but it also tends to be more expensive than other Caribbean island destinations.
What food is Puerto Rico known for?
Exploring traditional Puerto Rican cuisine is one of the best parts of visiting. Definitely check out mofongo, a mashed fried plantain side dish, as well as pasteles — similar to tamales but made with green banana masa and many options for fillings.
What can’t you bring back from Puerto Rico?
You can’t bring back fresh fruits or vegetables from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland. Cactus and citrus plants are also prohibited.
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A credit union is a nonprofit institution that’s owned by its members. Compared to a traditional bank, a credit union tends to offer more personalized service.
You can turn to a credit union for a variety of financial products, like checking and savings accounts, credit cards, car loans, and mortgages. Some regional and federal credit unions also offer wealth management services and other extras.
A typical credit union only accepts members who live in a specific region or work for an eligible employer. For example, they may require that you’re a resident of Atlanta, Georgia or work as a teacher.
The good news is some credit unions require less and make it easy for just about anyone to join. If you’d like to join a credit union but don’t want to worry about the strict membership requirements at most institutions, you’ve come to the right place.
38 Best Credit Unions Anyone Can Join
There are hundreds of credit unions that anyone can join, but we’ve done the heavy lifting and found the best ones for you. The credit unions below, which are overseen by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) may be an option for you, regardless of what you do for a living or where you’re located.
Just keep in mind that you may have to make a donation, join an organization, live in a certain state, or meet some other eligibility requirement. We encourage you to explore this lengthy to list of credit unions anyone can join so you can hone in on the ideal credit union for your unique situation.
1. Alliant Credit Union
Alliant Credit Union made its debut in 1935 to serve the employees of United Airlines. It stands out for it high-interest savings and checking accounts with low minimum opening deposits as well as excellent customer service.
You’ll also receive access to more than 80,000 free ATMs across the U.S. and get reimbursed up to $20 in out-of-network ATM charges per month. Since it only has two brick-and-mortar locations, you should feel comfortable with online banking. If you’d like to join Alliant Credit Union, make a $5 donation to Foster Care to Success.
2. Connexus Credit Union
Connexus Credit Union was founded in 1935 and has a widespread presence in Wisconsin as well as more than 54,000 ATMs across the country. It couldn’t be easier to join the credit union as all you have to do is pay a one-time $5 fee to the Connexus Association, which supports financial education through college scholarships.
As a member, you can open one of its three checking options with high APYs and a traditional savings account or one that’s specifically designed for the holidays.
3. Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Pentagon Federal Credit Union, or PenFed, was founded in 1935 as a credit union for military and civilian government. Today, this Virginia-based credit union has opened it doors to anyone as long as they open a savings account and deposit a minimum of $5. It offers two savings accounts, including the Regular Savings and Premium Online Savings.
In addition, you can find checking accounts, CDs, and money market accounts. Other products include Coverdell Education Savings Certificates, IRAs, credit cards, mortgages, home equity loans, and student loans. Plus, you can enjoy modern perks like mobile check deposits, online bill pay, and instant transfers.
4. First Tech Federal Credit Union
First Tech Federal Credit Union is headquartered in California. The credit union offers many benefits, such as excellent customer service, many branches throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, online banking, and mobile banking.
It also has the Dividend Rewards Checking Account, which gives you 1.00% APY on balances below $1,000. You don’t have to live in California to join as long as you donate to a nonprofit called the Financial Fitness Association.
5. Consumers Credit Union
Consumers Credit Union was established in 1951 as a local credit union. Based in Illinois, it’s one of the largest credit unions in the state with over 100,000 members and more than $1.2 billion in assets.
You can join it, even if you don’t live in Illinois. All you have to do is donate the $5 membership free to an affiliated nonprofit. You can open almost all of its accounts online, except for the checking accounts and IRAs. The credit union also offers a high-yield checking account that offers high interest if you meet certain criteria.
6. Langley Federal Credit Union
Langley Federal Credit Union is based in Virginia and made its inception in 1936. At that time, members of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor to NASA, chartered the credit union.
Today, Langley offers membership to anyone who pays a fee to support an important cause in Virginia and deposits at least $5 into a savings account. You can choose from a checking account without a monthly fee, a variety of no-fee savings accounts with competitive interest compounds monthly, and Visa Cards with cash back rewards.
7. Lake Michigan Credit Union
Lake Michigan Credit Union made its debut in 1933 by a group of teachers. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it has 51 branches in Michigan and southwest Florida. Since it’s part of the Allpoint ATM network, members can enjoy free access to more than 55,000 free ATM.
To join, donate $5 to the ALS Foundation and deposit $5 into a Member Savings account. Once you do, you can earn perks through the MORE rewards program and redeem them for complimentary checks and free out-of-network ATM transactions.
You may also open the free, no frills Max Checking account. Note that the Member Savings account, which you must open to become a member, requires a minimum daily balance of $300 or you’ll be charged a $5 monthly fee.
8. Lafayette Federal Credit Union
Lafayette Federal Credit Union was founded in 1935 as an alternative to traditional banks. It offers numerous perks, like no minimum balance requirement or monthly maintenance fees, online banking, mobile deposits, free direct deposit, and special discounts.
You can join it if you live, work, worship, or attend school in Washington D.C. If you live outside the D.C. area, you may still become a member as long as you invest in a lifetime Home Ownership Financial Literacy Council (HOFLC) membership for only $10. This nonprofit focuses on helping consumers navigate the path to homeownership.
9. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union has 26 branch locations across Minnesota. APFCU offers MyPlus Rewards that gives you points if you keep a certain amount of money in your bank account or use its debit or credit card.
To be eligible to join, all you have to do is donate $25 to the Affinity Plus Foundation and open a basic savings account. If you live and work in Minnesota or have a family member in the state, there are other ways to become a member.
10. Chevron Credit Union
Chevron Credit Union has been around since 1935 and has 19 branches that span six states, including California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Utah and Virginia. It operates under two brands: Chevron Federal Credit Union and Spectrum Credit Union.
To become a member, join one of its nonprofit partner organizations, such as the Contra Costa County Historical Society. You’ll also need to deposit $25 into a primary savings account and maintain a $25 minimum balance.
Chevron also offers a second chance checking account called New Solutions for those who need help rebuilding their banking history.
11. Ascend Credit Union
Since its inception in 1951, Ascend Credit Union has offered a variety of products, like checking and savings accounts, a money market account, Christmas Club account, youth accounts, credit cards, and loans.
If you’re interested in these services, join The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Chapter and you’ll be eligible automatically. Note that there is a one-time fee of $25.
12. Hope Credit Union
Hope Credit Union is a black-owned credit union that was organized in 1995 by the Anderson United Methodist Church in Mississippi. You can join if you pay a $10 membership fee and show a foreign passport, permanent resident card, or Matricula Consular. Plus, you may use an ITIN number instead of a Social Security number.
Hope Credit Union provides a number of personal bank accounts, business banking accounts, and transformational deposits. With its transformational deposits, you can participate in socially responsible investing.
13. Boeing Employees Credit Union
Boeing Employees Credit Union, or BECU, was established in 1935 for Boeing employees and currently caters to more than 1 million members. But despite its name, you don’t have to work at Boeing to join.
Its products and services are available to you if you become a member or donor to the KEXP, which is a nonprofit art organization or the Sea Hawkers Central Council. The most noteworthy benefit of joining is the first-time homebuyer grant in which you can receive $7,500 toward your down payment and closing costs.
14. Hiway Credit Union
Hiway Credit Union made its debut in 1931 to serve employees of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. It offers a free checking account with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirements, a free money market account with a $500 minimum deposit, credit cards, and loans.
You can qualify for a Hiway Federal Credit Union membership if you donate to the Minnesota Recreation and Park Foundation for $10 per year or the Association of the U.S. Army, which costs $40 for two years.
15. GreenState Credit Union
GreenState Credit Union was founded in 1938. It provides its members with personal accounts, business accounts, credit cards, loans insurance, wealth management services, and more.
GreenState was named one of the fastest growing credit unions in 2021. As long as you live or work in the state of Iowa, you can become a member and take advantage of its services without any issues.
16. Cascade Credit Union
Cascade Credit Union made its debut in 1952 to serve employees of the Cascade Division of the Great Northern Railway. Today, it’s open to many people and offers great perks like members-only sweepstakes, competitive rates, online banking tools, financial counseling, and group insurance benefits.
If you’d like to join, simply become a member of the Great Northern & Cascade Railway Association (GNCR) and pay an annual membership cost of $40. The credit union can help you fill out your application online or in-person at a local branch.
17. Wildfire Credit Union
Wildfire Credit Union began in 1937 as Saginaw Telephone Employees Credit Union, its original credit union name. Its first location was in the basement of the home of Hank Kosk, the credit union’s treasurer.
After some office upgrades, the credit union opened the doors to its current location on Bay Road in Saginaw and merged with Flint Telephone Employees Credit Union that same year. Today, Wildfire Credit Union offers several deposit accounts as well as personal banking and business banking services. You can join if you live, work, worship, or attend school in Michigan.
18. Nextmark Credit Union
Nextmark Credit Union made its debut in 1958. Its offerings include personal and business checking, home equity loans, personal loans, credit cards, gift cards, and more.
To join, you must live in a qualifying county in Virginia or make a donation to Herndon Elementary PTA, a Title I school.
19. Technology Credit Union
Technology Credit Union, or Tech CU, was established in 1960. It’s based in Silicon Valley and provides its members with no shortage of benefits. These include competitive rates, online banking, access to fee-free ATMs, free credit score monitoring, conference room space, and easy online appointment booking. To become a member, join Financial Fitness Association for only $8.
20. Veridian Credit Union
Veridian Credit Union was established in 1934. Most of its members are those who live or work in Iowa or certain counties of Nebraska. However, it’s open to anyone who is a registered user of Dwolla, a financial technology company. This means you can join as long as you sign up for a personal account at Dwolla.
You’ll also need to open a savings account and deposit at least $5. If you’re already a member of a credit union or bank but would like to switch to Veridian Credit Union, the switch kit may be helpful.
21. Harborstone Credit Union
Harborstone Credit Union’s roots date back to 1955, when it was known as McChord Federal Credit Union and served airmen on the McChord Air Force Base. In 1996, the credit union expanded its membership to anyone in the state of Washington and changed its name as a result.
As long as you live, work, or worship in Washington, you may join Harborstone Credit Union and enjoy a variety of financial products and digital tools.
22. NASA Federal Credit Union
NASA Federal Credit Union began in 1949 to serve NASA employees. Since then, it’s grown to more than 177,000 members. While the credit union is headquartered in Upper Marlboro, Massachusetts, there are 12 branches in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Its product lineup includes a simple checking account with no minimum opening deposit, a savings account with a great rate, and several CDs. You can also monitor your credit score and make deposits with the mobile app. If you don’t work for NASA, you can still join. Simply sign up for a one-year membership at the National Space Society (NSS).
Hanscom Federal Credit Union opened in 1953. The credit union has over 20 branches in and around Boston as well as one in McLean, Virginia. It offers fee-free checking accounts, savings accounts with rewards, credit cards, and loans.
To join, you’ll need to support one of its partner organizations, such as the Burlington Players, a volunteer theater group. In addition, you’ll be required to deposit $25 into a free primary savings account.
24. Pen Air Federal Credit Union
Pen Air Federal Credit Union was founded in 1936 to support civil service employees of Naval Air Station Pensacola. It has 16 locations in northwest Florida and southeast Alabama. You may be surprised to learn that you don’t have to be an active duty or retired military member to join.
You’ll be able to take advantage of Pen Air Federal Credit Union if you become a member of the Friends of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and deposit a minimum of $25 into a savings account. As a member, you can enjoy the Pen Air Platinum Mastercard, Share Savings account with the Round It program, and more.
25. State Department Federal Credit Union
State Department Federal Credit Union was founded in 1935. To join, you can become a member of the American Consumer Council for $8. This is a non-profit organization with a focus on consumer education and financial literacy.
The State Department Credit Union offers a long list of products and services, including basic, advantage, and privilege checking, a money market account, share certificate accounts, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), credit cards, and loans.
26. United Nations Federal Credit Union
United Nations Credit Union made its debut in 1947. As long as you join the United Nations Association of the United States of America, you can become a member.
UNFCU has a vast product lineup that includes a checking account, membership savings account, credit cards, debit cards, and loans, like car loans and debt consolidation loans.
Other membership perks include loyalty rewards, credit card rewards, and the member referral program.
27. Premier Members Credit Union
Premier Members Credit Union was established in 1959 for members of the Boulder Valley School District. You’re eligible to join if you make a donation to Impact on Education, a charity in the Boulder Valley School District, and open an online savings account or youth savings account.
As a member, you can expect perks, such as high interest rates on checking accounts, no monthly service fee, no overdraft fees, and free overdraft protection. The credit union also offers an extensive network of branches and ATMs for your convenience.
28. SRI Federal Credit Union
SRI Federal Credit Union is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. It was founded in 1957 and offers membership to anyone who joins the Financial Fitness Association for $8 per year.
The credit union’s account offerings include a checking and savings account, money market account, IRA, health savings account, and youth, teen, and gradate accounts.
29. United States Senate Federal Credit Union
United States Senate Federal Credit Union has been around since 1935. Its mission is to “improve the financial wellness of members throughout all stages and circumstances of life.” Its products are similar to what most credit unions offer.
As a member, you can enjoy access to a number of checking and credit union savings accounts, mortgage loans, personal loans, auto loans, Visa debit cards, and business advisory services. To join, you’ll need to become a member of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society for $65.
30. Wings Financial Credit Union
Wings Financial Credit Union was founded in 1938 by seven employees from Northwest Airlines. To date, it serves more than 320,000 members with more than $7.5 billion in assets. You can join if you donate $5 to the Wings Financial Foundation, even if you don’t work in the aviation industry.
There are no fees on its basic banking accounts, including its checking and savings accounts, a money market account, and CDs. Its high yield savings and checking accounts offer competitive rates to help you grow your money.
31. Skyward Credit Union
Skyward Credit Union was chartered in 1941. It offers a share savings account with competitive rates, an aim higher checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, affordable mortgage and home equity loans.
It also offers online banking, a variety of insurance products, and access to over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Like most credit unions require membership, so does this one. To become a member, join the Kansas Aviation Museum.
32. San Diego County Credit Union
San Diego County Credit Union has been around since 1938 and has over 430,000 credit union members. It’s considered the largest locally owned financial intuition in San Diego.
As a member, you can enjoy a free checking account, secured and unsecured credit cards, a wide range of account options with no service fees, and access to over 30,000 ATMs without ATM fees. To join San Diego County Credit Union, become a member of the Financial Fitness Association.
33. Bellco Credit Union
Bellco Credit Union is a Denver-based credit union that opened its doors in 1936. You can join it even if you don’t live in Colorado as long as you donate at least $10 to the Bellco Foundation, pay a one-time $5 membership fee, and deposit at least $25 in a savings account.
Once you do, you’ll have access to several noteworthy products, like the Boost Interest Checking account, which offers a competitive interest rate, the Premier Money Market Account, and two, no-fee credit cards.
34. Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Bethpage Federal Credit Union was founded in 1941 and currently has over 30 branches across Long Island and New York City. It has a reputation for competitive rates on it money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs).
The credit union also offers three checking accounts, a few savings accounts, retirement planning services, IRAs, insurance, and more. You don’t have to live in New York to join if you open a $5 savings account. As a member, you may meet with credit union staff virtually and bank on the go with a handy mobile app.
35. First South Financial Credit Union
First South Financial Credit Union opened its doors in 1957 to serve those on the Millington base. Since then, it has become of the safest financial institutions in the U.S., as stated by independent rating agencies. While the credit union has locations throughout Tennessee and Mississippi, its online banking services make it a suitable option if you live elsewhere.
Like other credit unions, it offers a full suite of checking, savings, CDs, and IRA accounts. To join, become a member of the Courage Thru Cancer Association, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
36. Dow Credit Union
Dow Credit Union was founded in 1937 in Midland, Michigan. It provides numerous products, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), HSAs, deposit trust accounts, and loans.
Fortunately, you don’t have to work at Dow Chemical to take advantage of them. To join, make a $10 donation to the Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union Endowed Scholarship Fund.
37. Blue Federal Credit Union
Blue Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1951 as Warren Federal Credit Union. If you’re looking for a high-yield checking account, you’ll appreciate its Blue Extreme Checking Account with no minimum opening deposit or monthly service fees.
Other perks include a tiered membership rewards program and round-the-clock customer service. The easiest way to become a member is to donate $5 to the Blue Foundation and open a Membership Share Savings Account with $5.
38. Digital Federal Credit Union
Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, was established in 1979. Today, it is known for its comprehensive range of financial products that includes checking and savings accounts, auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, and wealth management services.
Perhaps one of DCU’s standout features is its commitment to digital banking, offering robust online and mobile platforms that compete with larger, nationwide banks. This makes DCU a fitting choice for those who prefer online banking, no matter where they live.
Membership is open to those who are a part of participating organizations or live, work, worship, or attend school in eligible communities. If you don’t fit those criteria, you can still join by becoming a member of a participating nonprofit organization, such as Reach Out for Schools, which requires a nominal donation.
See also: Best Nationwide Credit Unions of 2023
Bottom Line
Not all credit unions are created equal. Some have strict membership criteria, while others are more flexible. Before you join a credit union (or several credit unions) on this list, be sure to consider numerous factors.
You’ll want to look at eligibility requirements, branch location, monthly maintenance fees, accounts offered, interest rates, mobile banking, digital banking, reputation, and customer service. Best of luck as you explore the best credit unions and search for the perfect credit union.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can civilians join Navy Federal Credit Union?
Yes, civilians can join the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), the largest credit union in the U.S. However, this is limited to immediate family members of service members in all branches of the armed forces. This broad eligibility criteria is one of the reasons why NFCU has grown to be the largest credit union in the country.
Can anyone join American Airlines Credit Union?
No, not anyone can join the American Airlines Credit Union. Membership is limited to those who work in the air transportation industry, including airlines, airports, and related businesses, as well as their family members. While this broadens the scope beyond just American Airlines employees, it still doesn’t include everyone.
It might surprise you to learn that the average ATM fee in America is $4.57. Considering that the minimum withdrawal amount is $20, you effectively pay 25% more if you use an out-of-network ATM with such a high fee.
Of course, your actual fees will vary depending on where you live and what type of ATM you use. However, it’s fair to say that these fees can really add up.
5 Easy Ways to Avoid ATM Fees
You don’t have to resign yourself to paying a lifetime of expensive ATM fees. Instead, use a bit of preparation to ensure you can access your cash for free whenever you need it.
As Ben Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In this case, a few minutes of preparation are worth a lot of cash savings. Ready to never pay ATM fees again?
1. Look for Banks that Reimburses ATM Fees
Even if your bank does participate in an ATM network, it’s also good to find one that reimburses your ATM fees. Some banks even reimburse international ATM fees.
There are a few ways they do this: some offer an unlimited reimbursable amount, while others might cap it out between $10 and $25 each month. So, how does ATM fee reimbursement work? Typically, you’ll still have to pay the fee upfront.
Your bank then credits any applicable ATM fees to your account balance at the end of your billing cycle. So, you generally have to wait a bit of time before seeing that money. Still, it’s much better than never seeing it at all! Interested in finding a financial institution that offers ATM fee reimbursements?
Banks and Credit Unions That Reimburse Out-of-Network ATM Fees
Alliant Credit Union – reimburses up to $20 per month
Ally Bank – reimburses up to $10 per statement cycle for ATM fees charged at other ATMs nationwide
Axos Bank – unlimited ATM fee reimbursements domestically
BankFive – up to $15 reimbursed each cycle
Charles Schwab Bank – unlimited ATM reimbursements worldwide
First Republic Bank – reimburses third-party fees worldwide
Incredible Bank – automatically reimburses ATM fees
Radius Bank – unlimited ATM fee reimbursements domestically
SoFi Money – ATM fees reimbursed worldwide
Upgrade – up to five ATM reimbursements each month
Top Banks and Credit Unions That Don’t Charge ATM Fees Within Their Network
Aspiration – over 55,000 fee-free ATMs
Capital One 360 – over 70,000 Capital One or Allpoint ATMs at zero cost
Chase – over 16,000 fee-free ATMs
Chime – over 60,000 fee-free1 ATMs
Citibank – over 65,000 ATMs fee-free to customers
Current – over 40,000 fee-free ATMs
Fifth Third Bank – over 50,000 fee-free ATMs
PeoplesChoice Credit Union – over 85,000 fee-free ATMs
PenFed Credit Union – over 85,000 fee-free ATMs
Wells Fargo – free access to over 13,000 ATMs
As you can see, there are plenty of financial institutions offering fee-free options that allow you to avoid ATM fees. Many of these bank accounts also come with no monthly fees. You can narrow down the list by reviewing other account features. You should also take into account how much foreign travel you do.
2. Plan in Advance
If your day entails going to Target or shopping online, it’s safe to assume you won’t need cash. But if you’re headed out to a less mainstream operation, check ahead to see if the business accepts debit or credit cards.
It’s as simple as a quick Google search on your phone to check out their payment options. If there’s no website available, see what people have to say on Yelp or Facebook. Message or call the business to check their policy in advance. While many small businesses use their smartphone or tablet to process electronic payments, you shouldn’t assume they all do.
This is especially true if you’re visiting a small operation. A farmer’s market or pick-your-own-strawberry field very well may only accept cash. Food truck rallies, small outdoor concerts, and cheap (but tasty) local dives may operate on a cash-only basis.
These are exactly the types of businesses that need loyal customers like you to support them. But when working with limited funds or limited Wi-Fi, accepting cards may not be an option for these businesses.
Do them and yourself a favor by checking acceptable forms of payment ahead of time, especially when it comes to local businesses. It might be easier to go to a big box store. However, it won’t be half as much fun or have as large of an impact on your community as supporting the little guys. Just prepare in advance, so you can avoid taking a U-turn to hit up an ATM once you’re there.
3. Keep Backup in Your Wallet
It’s perfectly reasonable to attempt to minimize what you carry around in your wallet. After all, you’re probably also saddled down with a bulky smartphone and keychain.
Amidst your driver’s license, debit cards, credit cards, health insurance card, and whatever else that lives in your wallet, you should also carry some backup cash. But, of course, you probably don’t want to walk around carrying a thick wad of money in your wallet.
The chances are low that you’d ever get robbed, but it’s certainly not impossible, especially if you live in a large city. Still, keeping a $20 bill in your pocket can save you a huge headache at some point down the road.
That amount should most likely cover a cab ride, lunch, or other last-minute cash expense you might encounter. And if you do happen to lose your wallet for some reason, you’re not missing a massive chunk of change.
Carry a Blank Check
Another great way to avoid last-minute trips to the ATM is to carry a blank check in your wallet. This gives you a little more leeway than a $20 bill because you can write out the check for however much you want.
If you happen to lose your wallet, or it gets stolen, you’re not out any cash. Of course, you might want to stop payment on the check number, but even that may not be necessary since you didn’t sign it.
Not everyone still accepts checks because of the chance of someone writing a bad one. But in many instances, it can save you time, money, and the aggravation of having to go out in search of an ATM. Adding a simple blank check and $20 can go a long way in ensuring that you’re prepared for any situation that requires a certain amount of cash.
4. Use Your Debit Card to Get Cash Back
A simple but often forgotten way to avoid paying ATM fees is to get cashback on a store purchase. You’ll need a debit card rather than a credit card for this tactic, but otherwise, it’s pretty straightforward.
Make a low-cost purchase at a gas station, drugstore, or other convenient retailer and request money back from your bank account during the payment process. However, there are a few conditions that come with this strategy.
First, it’s not technically free since you do have to pay money to get your cash. But you do actually get something for that money, unlike an ATM fee.
In addition, note whether the establishment has a minimum for either a debit purchase or getting cashback. Ideally, you can get away with buying a cheap drink or snack for one or two dollars. At some places, however, you have to spend $5 or more to use your debit card.
Cash Back Limits
Another factor to consider when getting money through cashback is that there may be a maximum amount you’re able to receive. For instance, CVS only allows for $35 as cashback.
If you need more than that, you may have to visit a few different stores. That can quickly add up if you’re making small purchases at each one. While these limits can be annoying, there is an upside to using cashback for money rather than an expensive ATM.
That’s the flexibility you have in the types of bills and coins you receive. While ATMs usually only dispense cash in $20 bills, you can request any combination of money with cashback. It’s also convenient if you only need a small amount and don’t want to (or can’t) withdraw in $20 increments. Before you hit an ATM, see if a retail store can meet your needs with cashback.
5. Check Your Bank’s ATM Network
If you find it necessary to track down an ATM, look for one in your bank’s network. This allows you to avoid ATM fees from two different parties. How?
Unfortunately, when you use an ATM that’s out of your bank’s network, you’re typically charged twice: once by the company operating the ATM and once by your bank. It’s a double whammy that really hurts your bottom line. So first, look to see if your actual bank has a branch location with an ATM near you.
This is the simplest way to ensure you won’t incur any extra charges. If there are none nearby, check the back of your debit card to see if any other ATM networks are listed. You can also download your bank’s app to use an ATM locator. It’s a quick and easy way to find a no-fee ATM — plus, it’s usually free.
The Largest ATM Networks
Some of the most common ATM networks include Allpoint, MoneyPass, and Co-op Solutions. Allpoint, for example, has 55,000 ATMs in the U.S. and ATMs in Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K., Australia, and Mexico.
So, you can enjoy fee-free cash in some popular international destinations as long as your bank or credit union participates. MoneyPass is only found in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It’s in many convenient locations, including Walmart.
Co-op is a similar service that focuses on credit union members. It has more than 30,000 ATMs and 5,000 shared branches throughout the nation. Participating credit union members can easily access fee-free money just about wherever they are.
Ask your bank or credit union where you have your checking account if they participate in any of these ATM networks. If they don’t, and you frequently use ATMs, it might be time to open a new bank account.
Final Thoughts
ATM fees can be especially high when traveling abroad. So, having a bank account like the Charles Schwab Investor Checking or SoFi Money can result in a lot of savings. Not to mention, some of them act as savings accounts and have similar interest rates, so you can actually earn money too.
ATM fee reimbursement isn’t the only feature you should consider when choosing a checking account. However, it could be the most important if you frequent ATMs often.
1. Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply with Chime except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
A summer vacation can feel like a seasonal rite of passage — a sacred time to break away from the demands of everyday life in favor of fun and relaxation.
But summer can also be an expensive time to travel, which makes it hard to budget enough money for your vacation.
Though it’s best to pay in cash for nonessential travel, there are financing options available, including credit cards, “buy now, pay later” plans and vacation loans. Consider the interest rate and how long you’ll be in debt when deciding which to choose.
The challenges of budgeting for summer travel
Travel demand is in “near-record territory” with all indicators pointing to a “very robust summer leisure travel season,” the U.S. Travel Association, a nonprofit that monitors the U.S. travel industry, said in an email. According to the association, demand has driven up prices in sectors like airfare and lodging.
Even without higher prices, travel is tough to budget for, says Jake Northrup, a certified financial planner in Bristol, Rhode Island.
“Travel usually comes in big waves, and there’s just a lot of uncertainty as to what things will actually cost,” Northrup says.
Adrienne Davis, a certified financial planner in the Washington, D.C., area, says her clients often receive last-minute offers to go on trips with friends or family, which leads to a cash shortage.
“We don’t expect prices to be that high when it’s time to book,” Davis says. “And if your money is already allocated on a month-to-month basis, it’s like, ‘Wow, where am I going to get this extra $500 or $1,000?’”
Northrup and Davis emphasize it’s best to avoid taking on debt for a vacation. But because a trip can mean precious time with loved ones or an enriching personal experience, it’s reasonable to explore your options.
“I certainly understand sometimes the best decision that you can make is not the most financially optimal one, and that’s OK,” Northrup says.
Credit cards, ‘buy now, pay later’ and vacation loans
Davis prefers a credit card if you must finance a trip because you’ll likely earn points or cash back, which can offset costs. Some cards come with protections, she says, like travel insurance.
But interest rates on credit cards are high, which is why Davis recommends getting a card with a 0% annual percentage rate and paying off the balance during the initial promotional period — typically 15 to 21 months — before regular interest kicks in.
Companies like Affirm and Uplift offer buy now, pay later plans for travel. These plans divide your purchase into equal installments that you pay over time, and interest rates vary.
Uplift partners with airlines, resorts and other travel companies, including some that offer zero-interest financing and terms up to 24 months, depending on the partner and loan amount. Affirm offers no-interest options with terms up to 60 months.
Northrup prefers buy now, pay later if it’s zero interest, but like any debt, it’s important to prioritize repayment to avoid fees or hits to your credit.
A travel loan, or an unsecured personal loan from a bank, an online lender or a credit union, is another option. These loans are larger, and rates vary based on your credit score and debt-to-income ratio. Repayment is typically two to seven years, so consider how long you want to be in debt after your vacation.
Saving for your next trip
Unpacking your bags after a trip with zero debt to repay is a great feeling. Here are tips for saving for your next vacation:
Start now: Time is your most valuable resource when saving. Start putting aside money now for next summer, even if you don’t have a trip planned, Davis says. By saving $85 per month, you’d have over $1,000 saved in a year.
Open a high-yield savings account: Davis and Northrup advise their clients to put travel-specific funds in a separate high-yield savings account. You’ll earn interest, and you won’t accidentally dip into the funds to cover other expenses.
Pick the destination last: Many travelers pick their destination first, then try to come up with the money. But you can reverse that process, Northrup says, by “backing into” the trip you want. See what you have saved, then choose a destination based on that figure.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
You may have a few different options if you are looking to open a credit card account with an additional person. Being a joint account holder and an authorized user are two different ways that two people can share the same account. However, there are a few important differences that you’ll want to be aware of.
When you add an authorized user to your account, the authorized user can benefit from the good credit and payment history on your account. This can be one strategy to help a trusted friend or family member improve their credit. With a joint credit card account, however, both people apply at the same time and both account holders are legally responsible for all purchases and debt on the account, regardless of which person actually makes the purchase.
Read on to learn more about this topic, including:
• What is a credit card authorized user?
• What is a joint account holder for a credit card?
• What are things to consider before adding an authorized user?
• What are things to consider before opening a joint credit card account?
• How to know whether a joint credit card vs. an authorized user is right for you?
Unlimited 2% cash back rewards*
Earn 3% cash back on up to $12,000 in purchases your first year when you set up direct deposit through SoFi.** After that, earn 2% unlimited cash back on everything.*
What Is a Credit Card Authorized User?
An authorized user on a credit card, sometimes called a supplementary credit card, is an additional user who is added to the account of the primary cardholder. The authorized user gets their own physical card and can make purchases. The authorized user may benefit from the good credit or a positive payment history on the account; it could help them establish or maintain their credit. However, they are not responsible for any of the purchases or debt.
How an Authorized User Impacts Your Credit
There are many factors that affect credit scores, but adding an authorized user to your account is not one of them. If you add an authorized user to your account, your credit will not be checked, and there should be no immediate impact on your credit. You will want to keep in mind, however, that you are responsible for any purchases made by authorized users. So if your authorized user spends more than you anticipate and you have trouble making the full monthly payment, it could impact your credit score.
Things to Consider When Adding an Authorized User to Your Account
Here’s a quick look at some things to consider when adding an authorized user to your account:
Risks
Rewards
You are legally responsible for all purchases made by an authorized user
May help establish or maintain the authorized user’s credit if used responsibly
May impact your credit if not used responsibly
Additional spending can generate additional credit card rewards
Primary cardholder can remove the authorized user from the account at any time
Recommended: How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?
What Is a Joint Credit Card Account Holder?
Unlike adding an authorized user to your account, you will typically obtain a joint credit card by applying for one with another person. With a joint credit card, the credit of both prospective cardholders is evaluated and used to determine eligibility. If approved, both cardholders are equally and separately liable for all of the debts and purchases on the account, regardless of who actually made the purchase.
How a Joint Account Impacts Your Credit
When you apply for a joint account, the credit of both people is reviewed, and then the applicants are possibly approved to receive a card. This will generally show up on each potential account holder’s credit report as a new inquiry, which may temporarily lower each person’s credit score by a few points. Additionally, both joint cardholders are responsible for all of the debt, regardless of who actually uses the credit card. So if one person spends more than expected or has trouble paying the bill on time, it may negatively impact both cardholders’ credit scores.
Things to Consider Before Opening a Joint Credit Card Account
Here’s a quick look at some things to keep in mind before opening a joint credit card account:
Risks
Rewards
Many major issuers do not allow joint accounts
Additional spending by two people can generate higher credit card rewards
Cannot remove one person from the joint account without closing the entire account
When used responsibly, it can help establish or maintain the credit of both cardholders
May get complicated if the relationship between the joint cardholders changes (e.g. divorce)
Joint Credit Card Account Holder vs Authorized User
Consider the differences between these two arrangements:
• A joint credit card account is one where two people jointly open and use the account, with both people equally responsible for all of the debt.
• An authorized user vs. a joint credit card has a key difference: The authorized user is not liable for any purchases they might make — instead the primary cardholder is responsible for all charges.
• Being an authorized user may be one way to help establish your credit if the primary cardholder already has good credit and continues to use the account responsibly.
Recommended: What Is the Minimum Age to Be an Authorized User on a Credit Card?
Choosing the Right Option
A joint credit card account typically only makes sense for two people that are in a committed relationship in which they are already sharing their finances. And you will also want to keep in mind that many major credit card issuers do not offer joint credit card accounts.
An authorized user, on the other hand, can make sense if you want to help bolster the credit of someone who is starting out. By adding them to your account, you may help them establish their credit.
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The Takeaway
An authorized user and a joint credit card account are different ways that two people can share a credit card account. With a joint credit card account, both people open the account together and are equally and separately liable for all charges on the account. With an authorized user on an account, only the primary cardholder is responsible for the charges. Those differences may help you decide which (if either) arrangement is right for you.
There are other considerations when applying for a credit card, such as whether you get rewards with each purchase. If you’re in the market for a new credit card, you might look at a rewards credit card like the SoFi Credit Card. You can earn cash back rewards on every eligible purchase, which you can then use for travel or to invest, save, or pay down eligible SoFi debt. You can even add authorized users to your SoFi credit card to earn additional rewards.
Swipe and tap the smarter way with SoFi.
FAQ
Is a joint credit card holder the same as an authorized user?
No, having a joint credit card account is not the same as having an authorized user on your account. With a joint credit card, both account holders are equally and separately liable for all charges on the account, regardless of who actually makes the purchase. With an authorized user account, only the primary cardholder is responsible.
Is it better to be an authorized user or have your own credit card?
When you are an authorized user on a credit card, you can make purchases and may be able to establish your credit, but you’re not responsible for any of the charges. Being an authorized user can make sense especially if you are just starting out. However, it may make sense at some point to work towards having your own credit card account where you don’t have to rely on anyone else.
Can you have 2 names on a credit card?
Generally there won’t be two names on a credit card, even if it is a joint account. In both the case of a joint account and being an authorized user, each person will get their own credit card with their name on it. Depending on the card issuer, the credit card account number may be the same or may be different.
Photo credit: iStock/Igor Alecsander The SoFi Credit Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri (TBOM) (“Issuer”) pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. SoFi cardholders earn 2% unlimited cash back rewards when redeemed to save, invest, or pay down eligible SoFi debt. Cardholders earn 1% cash back rewards when redeemed for a statement credit.1 1See Rewards Details at SoFi.com/card/rewards. Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances. Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website . SOCC1222080
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi are four of the major players in the travel credit card space. As such, these issuers offer their own travel portals, where users can earn and redeem their points and miles for flights, hotels, car rentals and more.
These issuers also incentivize their cardholders to use the bank’s own portal, done by offering bonus points on bookings.
For instance, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 10 miles per dollar on hotel and car rentals and 5 miles per dollar on flights — but only when booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Purchases made outside the portal earn 2 miles per dollar.
Likewise, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on all travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Otherwise, you earn 2 points per dollar on those travel purchases.
Given the lucrative earning potential that booking through these portals presents, it begs the question: Is it worth your time to use them rather than booking directly?
In this guide, we put these four travel portals to the test when booking flights. We compared price, ease of use, redemption value and other metrics.
Methodology
For this analysis, we limited our research to flights and didn’t include hotels, rental cars or other travel. That’s because we generally recommend that you avoid booking hotels through a third party since you likely won’t receive elite-status benefits (if you have any) or earn elite-qualifying stay credits.
If you’re not concerned with earning hotel elite status or are booking an independent hotel, then booking your stay through a travel portal could be advantageous for you.
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It’s also worth noting that you can get elite-like perks at hotels, even without elite status, by booking with these programs: Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts, Amex’s The Hotel Collection, Capital One’s Premier Collection, Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, Citi’s Hotel Collection and Citi’s Luxury Hotel Collection.
With flights, you may be able to “double-dip” your earnings: You can usually earn bonus points on bookings through your card issuer’s portal and earn airline and elite-qualifying miles just as you would by booking directly through the airline. That said, here are the features we examined in each portal:
Results: Do you get comprehensive results when searching through the portal?
Price: How do the prices compare to booking directly with an airline versus through a portal?
Ease of use: Is navigating the portal easy for a user? What unique features or benefits do users get from using this portal?
Redemption value: Is it worth redeeming your points and miles for travel through a portal?
With these four factors in mind, here’s how the individual issuers’ travel portals stack up.
American Express Travel portal
Any American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points grants access to the Amex Travel portal. Depending on your specific card, you may earn bonus points for booking through the portal.
The Platinum Card® from American Express, for instance, earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases annually, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. The American Express® Gold Card, meanwhile, earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
You can search for flights, hotels, flight and hotel packages, rental cars and cruises on the Amex portal.
Related: Everything you need to know about Amex Travel
Capital One travel portal
The Capital One travel portal offers a fresh interface powered by the travel tech app Hopper and is accessible with most credit cards earning Capital One miles or cash back.
Bonus earnings are available, depending on which card you have. Using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book flights in the portal provides 5 miles per dollar; flights booked elsewhere earn 2 miles per dollar.
Currently, you can only book flights, hotels and rental cars through the portal. The portal also houses the Premier Collection for luxury hotels. However, this is only accessible if you have the Venture X or its counterpart, the Capital One Venture X Business card.
The information for the Venture X Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to use the Capital One travel portal — now with more cards and new rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal
Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal was powered by Expedia for many years, but the issuer migrated to cxLoyalty in 2021.
You can access the portal with your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card, including popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Cardholders can book flights, hotels, cars, activities and cruises on the Chase travel portal.
Related: Why are some flights more expensive through the Chase travel portal?
Citi travel portal
The overhauled Citi travel portal launched in March 2023 after months of delays. It’s powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda, part of the Booking.com family.
You can access the portal with any credit card earning ThankYou points, and several cards earn bonus points on bookings in the portal. Unfortunately, flights aren’t included in these bonus offerings.
With Citi’s new portal, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars and attractions of numerous types. The portal also offers two hotel programs: Hotel Collection and Luxury Collection.
Related: Ultimate guide to the Citi travel portal
Booking flights
I looked at a variety of round-trip routes with the same dates (roughly six months from now) and gathered the following prices:
Itinerary
Booked directly
Amex Travel
Capital One Travel
Chase travel
Citi Travel
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in economy with Delta Air Lines.
$533.
$541.
$540.
$523.
$540.
Tampa (TPA) to Bozeman (BZN) in economy with American Airlines.
$786.
$786.
$786.
$786.
$786.
Baltimore (BWI) to Las Vegas (LAS) in economy with Delta Air Lines.
$720.
$720.
$720.
$720.
$720.
Miami (MIA) to Boston (BOS) in economy with JetBlue.
$418.
$418.
$338.
$418.
$412.
Chicago (ORD) to Milan (MXP) in economy with United Airlines.
$902.
$902.
$902.
$772.
$732.
Nashville (BNA) to Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) in economy with American Airlines.
$535.
$535.
$535.
$535.
$415.
Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul (ICN) in economy with Air Canada.
$1,079.
$1,952.
$1,880.
$ 2,581.
$1,952.
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in Delta One.
$2,798.
$2,600.
$2,798.
$2,798.
Not available.
Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) in business with British Airways.
$3,272.
$3,272.
$3,300.
$3,300.
$3,300.
San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) in business with Singapore Airlines.
$8,351.
$7,285.
$8,521.
$9,386.
$8,521.
Price
All of the travel portals generally fared well when it came to searching economy flights versus booking directly. However, there were a few major caveats worth noting.
Southwest Airlines is not bookable on any of the portals, and tickets for low-cost airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier are typically more expensive on the Chase and Capital One travel portals than booking directly. Amex Travel didn’t display any Spirit Airways or Frontier Airlines flights.
When it came to international flights, all of the bank portals struggled at times to match prices or give comparable results versus booking directly. For a deeper dive on some of these routes and flight prices, we did a broader comparison across 20 flights in this guide.
As a general word of advice, domestic flights should yield the same results and price, but it gets tricky when searching for international fares. Your best bet would be to compare the prices and only use a portal when the prices are identical.
Ease of use
The Amex portal is my favorite for a comprehensible search experience, fast load times for results and the simplicity of parsing through the various options.
On the other hand, the Capital One portal offers one of the most visually appealing interfaces, with color-coded dates to indicate the lowest prices in a calendar view — plus price drop protection. However, the Capital One portal did not provide as many options as its competitors on some searches. It also yielded higher prices for international routes, but I’m hopeful that the issuer will continue to make improvements in the future.
Based on millions of data points from Hopper, Capital One is supposed to let you know if this is the best time to book via its price watch prediction feature.
To standardize the offerings across various airlines, Capital One also provides detailed insights into what flyers can expect from their chosen fare class. With the rise of “basic economy” fares, it’s not always clear what amenities are included in your ticket and what you’ll have to pay for as extras.
Capital One does an excellent job of explaining in-depth features such as seat pitch, aircraft type, and food and beverage options on board.
Speaking of basic economy, it’s worth noting Amex Travel rarely (if ever) displays these fares. If you’re looking for basic economy, you should use another portal.
Citi’s new portal does a good job of offering a broad range of results in economy and offering upgrades on the payment page. And being able to book flights plus other travel elements in one transaction is great. However, searching directly for business-class fares is tricky on this portal.
Finally, the Chase portal has seen vast improvements since fully migrating toward its cxLoyalty interface. Previously, when Chase was powered by Expedia, users complained about slow load times and much higher prices than those offered directly by the airlines. Some of those issues seem to have been resolved.
While the Ultimate Rewards portal could use some work in cleaning up the interface, the overall user experience is much better than before. That said, it’s also the portal with the highest frequency of price divergence from booking directly — sometimes higher and sometimes lower.
Redemption value
This is not a criterion we used for evaluating these bank travel portals for this particular article. The value of your points or miles can depend on which particular rewards card you carry. Still, it is worth remembering if you intend to use your credit card’s travel portal to earn or redeem points and miles.
Your credit card points or miles are typically worth 1 cent each for flights in your respective travel portal. That’s the case with Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points and Capital One credit cards. Even with the Capital One’s premium card (the Venture X), your points are only worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through the Capital One portal. The same applies to credit cards earning Citi ThankYou points.
On the other hand, Chase’s credit cardholders are incentivized to use the Ultimate Rewards portal via a higher redemption value. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel bookings, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card fetch 1.25 cents per point in value.
While not as consistent of a program, American Express offers “Insider Fares,” allowing cardholders to redeem their points for a better value than 1 cent apiece on select domestic and international itineraries. However, these can be quite specific.
Select Amex business credit cardholders can also leverage the Pay with Points benefit to get a 25% to 50% points rebate when booking select airfare through Amex Travel — yet another incentive to book through the portal.
Due to all these card-specific circumstances, we didn’t make redemption values a main criterion for judging these portals for booking flights. Rather, we focused on each portal’s user interface and the availability of competitive fares — as those two factors will probably be the determinants as to whether travelers end up using them.
Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum’s Pay With Points perk
Bottom line
Credit card issuers have improved their travel portals over the years, but they’re still far from perfect. While there isn’t a clear winner for the best travel portal, each has unique features and incentives for its cardholders.
If you decide to book a flight through your issuer’s travel portal, be sure to compare that price against booking directly with the airline to get the best deal possible. And don’t forget that you may want to book directly anyway to avoid any headaches down the road. If you need to change or cancel your airfare, booking with a third party can complicate matters when plans change.
Iowa is a growing, thriving state with plenty of things to offer residents. With so many choices available, it can be tough to decide on the best bank. Once you’ve made sure your bank of choice is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, there are other factors to look at, including whether you’ll find branches in your area and what fees you’ll be charged. This list can help you decide.
11 Best Banks in Iowa
Before you open a new bank account, take a look around at the best banks in your area. Here are a few to consider.
1. Hills Bank
Hills Bank has branches in the Cedar Rapids, Marion, Iowa City, and Mount Vernon areas, but you can access funds nationwide through thousands of SHAZAM and MoneyPass ATMs. There are three tiers of checking accounts, but Free Checking has no maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirements.
Fees:
No monthly fees
$27 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
No minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Free at Hills, SHAZAM, and MoneyPass locations
No fee for out-of-network transactions
Interest rates:
Up to 0.40% on savings accounts
Up to 4.43% on fixed-rate CDs
Additional perks:
In-person banking services available at branches throughout Iowa
Competitive rates on CDs
2. Bank Iowa
Bank Iowa is an Iowa-only bank with branches in five areas, including Iowa City, but there are no branch-based banking services in Cedar Rapids. You’ll find five checking account options, including two with no monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance.
Fees:
No monthly maintenance fees
$35 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
$10 minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Free access at Bank Iowa ATMs and SHAZAM locations nationwide
$2 for out-of-network withdrawals
Interest rates:
Up to 0.19% on savings
Up to 1.28% on money markets
Up to 2.56% on CDs
Additional perks:
Checking accounts come with complimentary identity theft services
Competitive rates on personal and home loans
3. GO2Bank
If an online bank can meet all your banking needs, GO2Bank might be the best bank. You can easily manage your funds through the mobile banking app, and you’ll also have access to a nationwide network of ATMs and retailers for deposits and withdrawals. As long as your paycheck is automatically deposited, you’ll pay no monthly maintenance fees, but otherwise, it’s only $5 per statement cycle.
Fees:
No monthly fee with direct deposit
$15 overdraft fee for every transaction not paid within 24 hours
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
No minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Free access at AllPoint locations nationwide
$3 for out-of-network withdrawals
Interest rates:
Up to 4.50% annual percentage yield on savings account
Additional perks:
Deposit cash at more than 90,000 retailers nationwide
Earn up to 7% cash back on gift card purchases
4. Regions Bank
If you limit your travel to the southern and Midwestern U.S., Regions Bank might be a contender for your business. This regional bank covers Iowa, along with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
As long as you have at least one $500 check deposited directly each month, you can get free checking. But banking services like loans and a financial advisor upon request make this bank really stand out.
Fees:
$8 monthly (waived with qualifying activity)
$50 minimum opening deposit
Balance requirements:
$1,500 minimum balance or $500 direct deposit to qualify for free checking
$36 overdraft fee
ATMs:
More than 2,000 ATMs
$2.50 per withdrawal at out-of-network ATMs
Interest rates:
Up to 0.01% APY on savings
Up to 4.75% on CDs
Additional perks:
Wide range of banking products
Wealth management services available
5. Northwest Bank
Based in Spencer, Iowa, Northwest Bank is a family-owned bank with locations in both Iowa and Nebraska. Northwest is considered one of the best banks in Iowa for its quality customer service and great rates on checking. Currently, Northwest Bank is offering a $100 bonus on each new checking account as long as you sign up for new products like e-statements, Zelle, and BillPay.
Fees:
No monthly fee
$28 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
$10 minimum opening balance
ATMs:
Free at MoneyPass ATMs nationwide
$2 per withdrawal at out-of-network ATMs
Interest rates:
0.01% APY on qualifying checking accounts
.001% APY on savings
Up to 2.25% APY on money markets
0.03% on CDs
Additional perks:
$100 cash bonus to qualifying new accounts
1.50% cash back on debit card purchases ($8 limit)
6. Chime
Another online and mobile banking option is Chime, which offers all the amenities of bigger banks without the cost. Online banking options include a checking account with autosave features to help you meet your financial goals. Chime’s savings accounts offer 2% APY, which is competitive with what other banks in Iowa are offering.
Fees:
No monthly fee
No charges for overdrafts
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
No minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Fee-free at Allpoint and MoneyPass ATMs
$2.50 fee for each out-of-network ATM transaction
Interest rates:
2% APY on savings accounts
Additional perks:
Pay accessible up to two days early
Automatically round up each debit card purchase to build your savings account
7. CIT Bank
Another online banking option is CIT Bank, which has no local branches. CIT’s bank accounts come without monthly charges, including no overdraft fees, but there is a downside. CIT Bank’s ATM network is nonexistent. You’ll be reimbursed up to $30 a month in out-of-network costs, though.
Fees:
No monthly fee
No charges for overdrafts
Balance requirements:
$25,000 minimum balance or $100 monthly deposit
$100 minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Up to $30 in ATM costs refunded per month
Interest rates:
Up to 0.46% APY on savings
Up to 1.55% APY on money market
5% APY on CDs
Additional perks:
Great rates on CDs
Savings Builder account motivates you to save at least $100 monthly
8. Fidelity Bank & Trust
Fidelity Bank & Trust is a community bank with a hometown feel. It has more than 30 branches in Northeast Iowa, Northwest Illinois, and Southwest Wisconsin. The bank offers robust online and mobile banking options, as well as money management help through its investment services team.
Fees:
No monthly fee
$30 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
$50 minimum opening balance
ATMs:
Free at Fidelity Bank locations across Northeast Iowa
Free at SHAZAM ATMs nationwide
Interest rates:
0.05% APY on qualifying checking accounts
0.05% APY on savings
Up to 0.50% APY on money markets
Up to 4.77% on CDs
Additional perks:
myPIC debit card lets you add your photo to your card
Specialized Christmas and children’s savings account options available
9. Bank of America
Even though it’s a large national bank, Bank of America brings some of the benefits you get from a small bank. Customers can enjoy fee-free account types as long as they sign up for Preferred Rewards. But one of the biggest benefits is the nationwide network of branches and ATMs.
Fees:
$12 monthly fee (waived with qualifications)
$10 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
$1,200 minimum balance or qualifying deposits to waive fee
$100 minimum opening balance
ATMs:
Free at Bank of America ATMs nationwide
$2.50 fee for each out-of-network ATM transaction
Interest rates:
0.04% APY on savings (with preferred rewards)
Up to 4.20% on CDs
Additional perks:
In-person service at branches and with virtual assistant at ATMs
Preferred Rewards programs offer discounts on accounts and loans
10. Bankers Trust
Based in Des Moines, Bankers Trust has banks in Iowa and Arizona. There are multiple accounts to meet your banking needs, including some checking accounts with tiered interest rates. New customers may be eligible for a $250 bonus by choosing a participating checking account.
Fees:
No monthly fee with at least 12 debit card transactions
$10-$30 overdraft fee
Balance requirements:
No minimum balance
$25 minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Fee-free at Allpoint and MoneyPass ATMs
$2 fee for each out-of-network ATM transaction
Interest rates:
Up to 0.60% on checking
Up to 1.45% on savings
Up to 4.55% on CDs
Additional perks:
$250 bonus for new BreakFree or Direct Checking account
Education center provides training and information
11. MidwestOne Bank
If customer service is a priority, MidwestOne Bank is one of the best banks in Iowa. This regional bank has 45 branches across Iowa, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Florida. You’ll also find great rates on auto and personal loans with MidwestOne.
Fees:
No monthly fee
$35 for overdrafts
Balance requirements:
No minimum daily balance
$100 minimum opening deposit
ATMs:
Fee-free at MoneyPass ATMs
$1 fee for each out-of-network ATM transaction
Interest rates:
Up to 0.75% APY on savings
Up to 1.00% APY on money market
Up to 2.47% APY on CDs
Additional perks:
Bank Your Change automatically rounds up debit purchases to put toward savings
Competitive rates on personal loans
Bottom Line
The best banks in Iowa offer great customer service and easy access to your funds. To ensure you make the right choice, consider not only these factors, but also the range of financial products, convenience, and technological innovation each bank provides. As you compare different banks, keep in mind your specific financial needs, preferences, and goals, such as low fees, high interest rates, or specialized services.
Once you’ve found the best bank, it’s essential to regularly review your account and stay informed about new offers and changes in rates and amenities. By doing so, you can maximize your financial benefits and adjust your banking relationship as your needs evolve. Ultimately, the best bank for you will consistently deliver on all fronts, helping you achieve financial stability and success in Iowa.